Tuesday: Bernard and Mary's Dream

I am in Kenya now with Bernard and Mary Kabaru and their daughters, Shirley and Carol.   Today, Bernard and I headed out to see newly purposed property for a very big vision.   The property is located about 45 minutes west/northwest of Nyeri.    The views of Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains are beautiful.   The property sits between the two mountain ranges at 6,300 feet above sea level.   This is the rainy season so everything is green.    The property is in a semi-arid area.   The property consists of two plots of about 8 acres each.    I have included a few photos to give you an idea of the property. 

The dream is in our newly printed newsletter.   Since I am in Kenya, I am not sure if it has been received yet, but here is the big dream. 

 

On this site, Bernard and Mary want to develop a home for children, a secondary school, a guesthouse to use for training and for marriage retreats, and a farm to provide for sustainability.    The vision will take years to complete, but, finally, the dream has become a reality. 

When we arrived on the property and began to check the property map against what was there, things did not seem to add up.   We met a local man working on the road.   He proved to be a God-send.   He told us all about the area.   Also, he was a best friend of Mary Kabaru’s cousins.   Cus stayed with us all the day.   We obtained a local surveyor to measure and mark the properties.    You will love this, we used aloe plants to make the corner spots.    The aloe plants are big.    Also, while we were measuring the property, at one end of the property we met a neighbor.   Come to find out where his property ended and Bernard’s property began was a distance of about 10-12 feet.   So, the neighbor and Bernard agreed right on the spot to split the difference with each getting 6 more feet of property.   It’s all legal since we had the surveyor there.   

 

 

Again, the views from the property are spectacular and beautiful.   Unfortunately, the battery on my camera died and I left the extra back at my room.   We saw zebra, gazelle, and antelope grazing as we drove to and from the property.   Also, there are two major national parks very close and two private ranches that allow viewing of elephants, giraffe, rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetah, etc.   This is a great location.  

Next step is to fence the property and see about the viability of a water well.   There is a water line near the property, but the water is limited to one day a week and even then there's not much water.    A power line is not far from the property and should come to the property eventually.   

 

This was a exciting day as a long dreamed dream for Bernard and Mary  became “actual” as Bernard said.  

Tomorrow I meet with our partners in the December 30-January 3 Gatunguru Holiday Bible Camp.  Please join us in prayer as we prepare for the camp and for those who want to go with us to participate in this exciting work with children and children’s leaders.